Leonard McNamara, who was a rear gunner during World War Two, will turn 90 on September 21, and is set to be guest of honour at annual aviation event

Former Lancaster bomber rear gunner Leonard McNamara from Southport will be a guest of honour at this year's Southport Air Show

A distinguished veteran has said that being able to see the Lancaster bombers at this year’s air show will be the best present he has ever had.

Leonard McNamara, will turn 90 on September 21, and is set to be the guest of honour at the resort’s annual two-day aviation event taking place during the same weekend.

During the Second World War, Mr McNamara was a rear gunner – flying in both the Halifax and Lancaster bombers across a staggering 46 operations until the end of the war.

Mr McNamara said: “I am very interested to see the two bombers. The Canadians have flown the other Lancs over. It took them three days to get over here.

“They are taking part in the Battle of Britain flight in all the air shows, but they are going back to Canada on September 22, so it really is my last chance to see them.

“It will very much be a very special moment for me – I am really looking forward to hearing the engine, the noise is just fantastic.”

He told the Visiter that despite being a trainee plumber, and exempt from fighting during the war, he volunteered for duty with the Royal Air Force as he “wanted to fly,” and was “just keen on it.”

He added: “We were all lads, we just got on with what we had to do. I was very fortunate.”

Describing his time in the air, he said: “You just had to keep a visual and your eyes open, watching out for things. It is funny, you did not see what you were going into until you were in it and coming out the other side.

Leonard McNamara in uniform, on the top row and far right

“There were searchlights. Sometimes it was like being caught naked – it was frightening. But if you were a good gunner, you never invited trouble. If you saw them, you just left them and hoped nothing happened.

“The comradeship was amazing. We were closer than if it were you own brothers. You depended on each other for your lives. We lived together and did everything together.”

Often flying at heights of 30,000ft, Mr McNamara added: “Inside the bombers, at the front they had hot air tubes, but we had nothing at the rear.

“It would be very cold, sometimes minus 40. Any spittle would freeze on your face. You would have to keep flexing your oxygen tube because any condensation would freeze up.”

Finishing his first tour in December 1944, Mr McNamara volunteered to go for a second tour, as he “preferred to be flying.”

Moving from 158 Squadron, where he flew in the Halifax, into the Lancaster for his second tour with 75 New Zealand Squadron, he said he preferred the Halifax over the Lancaster, as it could climb better.

It was more crew-friendly and easier to escape in an emergency.

Across more than 46 operations during both tours, Mr McNamara and his crews targeted places like Duisberg – which he did twice in 24 hours, describing it as a “very long day.”

Leonard McNamara with his service medals, including the distinguished flying cross

During one flight in the Lancs, he even had an engine catch fire, after one of the in-lines began leaking.

He said: “Instead of being eight hours, we were nine hours and everyone else was back and had gone to bed by the time we got back.

“But it was all part of the job. We just wanted to get back for our bacon and eggs, which is what we used to have.”

Mr McNamara said the air crew was always very well looked after during the war, and that in the sergeant’s mess there was always a big churn of fresh milk and plenty of vitamin pills and fish oil.

Recalling some of his fonder memories he added: “We did the supplies drop into Holland after the war, dropping off food.

“That was fantastic going over and seeing people waiting. That was the best part. It made it all worthwhile, especially as they were desperate.

“We also flew our own prisoners of war back. The first thing they did to the prisoners when they took them off the plane was de-fumigate them, the poor devils.”

Mr McNamara was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service during the Second World War for never “losing his keenness,” “accepting spare duties without complaint,” and because he “did much to build the general efficiency of the very large section to which he belongs.”

Leonard McNamara stood next to where he would sit while in flight

The citation states that he had “consistence vigilance,” and “under the heaviest fire, has remained courageously calm and his coolness in times of danger has been a source of confidence to his colleagues in the aircraft.”

“He has operated against 14 major targets, including Frankfurt twice, Brunswick, Aachen, Stuttgart, Sterkrade by night, and Gelsenkirchen twice. He has an “unfailing devotion to duty at all times.”

He added: “Getting that Distinguished Flying Cross was the best. I appreciate that more than anything.

“I never knew until then that I was so appreciated.”

After the war, Mr McNamara spent 22 years in the Royal Air Force as an air traffic controller before moving on to work at Littlewoods as an administration manager.

Originally from Bristol, he has been living in Southport since 1973 with his wife Irene.

They met when Leonard was 17 and Irene was 15 and he was working as an apprentice plumber and had gone over to Bath to work on the bomb damage.

The couple have been married for 67 years, have six children, 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Southport Air Show takes place on September 20 and 21. For more information and tickets visit www.southportairshow.com or call 01704 533333.

The Editor

Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown is the editor of the Southport Visiter, Midweek Visiter, Formby Times, Ormskirk Advertiser, Skelmersdale Advertiser, and the Crosby Herald. Andrew was born and bred in Southport - a true Sandgrounder. Andrew was one of the founders of Southport's Charity Fun Fest.